Meilily

Beauty and the Law: Class Action Cosmetic Cases Settlement – Consumers Get One Free Product

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 | Beauty and the Law, Free Stuff, Hot Happenings, Makeup, Stores

A while back there was a class action lawsuit brought against several large cosmetics companies and department stores by their customers, claiming conspiracy to fix the price of cosmetics (a.k.a. agreeing to never let cosmetics go on sale) between 1994 and 2003.  Come to think of it, I always thought it was strange that department stores only offered gift with purchases for cosmetics rather than, say, just a 25% off sale in the beauty department.

Anyway, the class action lawsuit has apparently settled, and as part of that settlement, the cosmetics companies and department stores involved, including Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Nordstrom, and Macy’s, will be offering relevant consumers…one free product of their choice starting January 20, 2009.  See the settlement website, http://www.cosmeticssettlement.com, for details, or keep reading for more information, a list of participating retailers, and a list of available products. 

Again, if you are a consumer who is a part of this class action settlement (In re Cosmetics Cases), starting January 20, 2009 you can go to one of fourteen participating department stores to claim the settlement product of your choice.  When I say “of your choice” I mean the cosmetics companies and retailers have come up with a list of about 19 products from which each consumer belonging to the settlement class may “choose” one item, and one item only.  (This also means, that consumers should choose their settlement product only from any cosmetics brands that they had actually purchased from during the relevant class action period.)

Please note that the products will essentially be first-come-first-serve, and rainchecks will not be provided.

Retailers Distributing Settlement Products

Bergdorf Goodman, Bergner’s, Bloomingdale’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Dillard’s, Gottschalks, Herberger’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Parisian, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Younkers.

List of Settlement Products (Choose One)

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.:   Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.:  Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.:  J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc.:  Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc.: Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz)
OR Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz) OR Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz) OR Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.: My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc.:  Lancôme UV Expert 20 OR Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara OR Lancôme Fatale Mascara OR Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara OR Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense OR Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.) OR Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz) OR Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.: Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml).

Meilily:  Keeping you up-to-date on Beauty and the Law

P.S. If you’re not sure what exactly “price fixing” means or what antitrust law has to do with cosmetics, click here for a great and easy-to-read antitrust primer.

Tags: Beauty, cosmetics, department stores, Estee Lauder, Free Stuff, In re Cosmetic Cases, In re Cosmetics Cases, L'Oreal, lawsuit, Macy's, Nordstrom, settlement

3 Comments to Beauty and the Law: Class Action Cosmetic Cases Settlement – Consumers Get One Free Product